Readers Guide: Nightwoods’ by Charles Frazier

Thursday

Books to read during the fall season. Charles Frazier, author of the best-selling "Cold Mountain," returns with "Nightwoods."

‘Nightwoods’ by Charles Frazier

Scarred by their dysfunctional childhood, sisters Lily and Luce took different paths when they grew up. Lily gave birth to twins, Dolores and Frank, and married the violence-prone Bud. Luce chose a solitary life, inhabiting a deserted lodge in the North Carolina mountains. Now Lily is dead -- probably murdered by Bud -- and the twins, who are practically feral and unwilling or unable to talk, are given into Luce's care. But while she struggles to connect with them, Bud shows up looking for Lily's money, which he believes the children have taken. Charles Frazier, author of the best-selling "Cold Mountain," returns with "Nightwoods."

‘Bonnie’ by Iris Johansen

It was the abduction of her then 7-year-old daughter that started Eve Duncan on her career as a forensic sculptor dedicated to helping other people find closure when their loved ones fell victim to violence. Now Eve is about to find that same closure for herself as she, Joe Quinn, Catherine Ling and John Gallo move in on the man who may know what ultimately happened to her daughter. Iris Johansen finally reveals the truth about the abduction of "Bonnie."

As soon as NPR's cooking expert Lynne Rosetto Kasper and Sally Swift, her long-time friend and producer, finished their first cookbook, "The Splendid Table's How to Eat Supper," they knew they had another book waiting to be written. Whereas "How to Eat Supper" dealt with quick and delicious meals that could be easily prepared at the end of a long workday, it left out many of their favorite recipes that require unusual ingredients and take time to prepare and enjoy. "The Splendid Table's How to Eat Weekends" wonderfully rounds out a full week of luscious meals.

‘Shock Wave’ by John Sandford

Someone in charming Butternut Falls, Minn., doesn't want mega-store PyeMart to build in their town. A bomb set off in the company's headquarters in Michigan is quickly followed by another explosion at the local construction site. Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agent Virgil Flowers is investigating. But the lengthy list of suspects includes local business owners and environmentalists, making this one of Virgil's toughest cases. "Shock Wave" is the latest in this popular series by John Sandford.

‘Feast of Fools’ by James Lee Burke

The small Texas border town under the watchful eye of Sheriff Hackberry Holland seems to be a catch basin for a wide variety of tortured souls. There is sometime killer Preacher Jack Collins, and Anton Ling, a mysterious Chinese woman on whose land alcoholic, ex-boxer Danny Boy Lorca claims he saw someone murdered. And then there is Sheriff Holland, who is deeply mourning the death of his wife yet strangely drawn to the enigmatic Anton. James Lee Burke presents the third of Hackberry's adventures in "Feast of Fools."

‘The Hum and the Shiver’ by Alex Bledsoe

Seriously injured after an act of heroism in Iraq, Bronwyn Hyatt returns to Needsville in East Tennessee's Cloud County to find healing among her people. She is a Tufa -- a race so old no one knows where they came from or how they got their magical abilities. Yet the solace Bronwyn wants isn't there -- the songs that are the soul of her people seem to elude her and a ghost of a dead soldier from her platoon has appeared to warn her of impending tragedy. West Tennessee native Alex Bledsoe creates an atmospheric and intriguing new series with "The Hum and the Shiver."

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.